GWENDA AND THE ANIMALS

Gwenda, an empathetic child, stays at the zoo after it closes and discovers all manner of sadness among the animals: the male and female panda cannot mate because they have never been properly introduced (the female was just shoved into the cage); the penguins despise being paraded past the wolves each day and are traumatized by constant fear; the lion and lioness are miserable without their cubs, who were taken away while their parents were under sedation. Gwenda manages to abolish all these troubles in one slick conversation with a zookeeper; she also Suggests a cage to punish people who are not kind to animals. Gwenda wears such thick layers of compassion that she nearly crumples under the weight; she's likely to be sneered at by post-Pollyanna readers. Carnabuci's Anthony Bruwne-like illustrations lack his satire or surreal edge, but still add intrigue to each chapter of this message-laden story.